News

Iraqi national Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi has pleaded not guilty to U.S. terrorism-related charges accusing him of helping plan at least 18 attacks across Europe and supporting the Iran-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah.

Appearing in federal court in Manhattan on Monday, Al-Saadi described himself as a «prisoner of war» and denied the allegations. During the hearing, he told the court he was not a criminal and referred to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East before being ordered to sit down by Judge Colleen McMahon. U.S. marshals approached him as the exchange unfolded.

U.S. prosecutors allege that Al-Saadi, whom...

Roodell has emerged victorious in an auction to purchase a 50% state-owned stake in the joint venture UzSungwoo. During the competitive bidding process, the value of the asset surged significantly from an initial starting price of 390.5 bn soums ($32.7 mln) to a final winning bid of 585.8 bn soums ($49 mln).

The sale took place on June 1 via the E-auksion platform and concluded in approximately 34 minutes. The transaction was structured to allow payments on an instalment basis and the final auction results are currently awaiting payment clearance.

Strategic importance and strict conditions

UzSungwoo is a...

A potent combination of human-induced climate change and a developing El Nino weather pattern is poised to trigger severe environmental chaos across the globe.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has published a dire forecast warning that the collision of these two forces will likely result in devastating meteorological extremes.

High probability of disruption

According to the latest WMO data, there is an 80% likelihood that El Nino will firmly establish itself between June and August. Forecasters also calculate a 90% chance that the climatic anomaly will endure until at least November.

El Nino is a natural phenomenon that...

The coaching staff of the Uzbekistan national football team has finalised the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. The roster features a combination of players competing in the domestic league and in foreign championships.

Pakhtakor have the largest representation with four players selected for the tournament. They are followed by Neftchi with three representatives and Nasaf with two.

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Fresh off a phenomenal $118 mln opening weekend, A24’s viral horror sensation Backrooms is officially laying the groundwork for a follow-up. Kane Parsons, the visionary creator and face of the franchise, has been remarkably candid during his recent press tour about his cinematic aspirations.

Acknowledging that he has taken the property to its absolute limits on YouTube, he is now eager to transform the eerie digital lore into a full-scale feature anthology.

Early stages of development

Despite the overwhelming financial triumph of the first film, the next instalment is still in its infancy. Industry sources report that Parsons is...

Golden State Warriors icon Stephen Curry joined forces with Li-Ning in a major endorsement agreement, BBC reports. The 38-year-old basketball star has been searching for a new retail collaborator since concluding his 12-year relationship with American activewear brand Under Armour last year.

The financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed but the partnership will see Curry and Li-Ning co-develop new merchandise. Furthermore, the duo plans to roll out a signature chain of shops across both the United States and China.

A strategic coup for Li-Ning

Securing a global superstar of Curry’s magnitude represents a massive leap forward for...

Hot on the heels of the Sunday night finale of HBO’s hit series Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney is actively expanding her footprint behind the camera. The actress has officially launched her own production company, Honey Trap, bringing on her long-time creative collaborator Kaylee McGregor to serve as president of production and development, Deadline reports.

The newly formed banner is already making waves having secured a lucrative first-look agreement with Sony Pictures.

A winning formula at Sony

This new partnership is a natural progression following Sweeney’s massive success at the studio with the sleeper hit Anyone But You. Serving as...

Despite suffering a defeat against Canada in their recent international friendly, Uzbekistan head coach Fabio Cannavaro expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance during the opening 45 minutes.

The Italian manager emphasised the importance of learning from the encounter as the squad prepares for crucial competitive fixtures.

“In any match there are mistakes. It is better to make them in friendly fixtures than in official games in ten days’ time,” Cannavaro stated.

Analysing the match dynamics, the head coach highlighted a stark contrast between the two periods of play. During the first half, Cannavaro noted...

Jensen Huang, the chief executive of the American chip behemoth Nvidia, is scheduled to feature on the renowned tvN talk programme “You Quiz on the Block”. The broadcaster confirmed the news on Tuesday ahead of the tech billionaire’s impending visit to Seoul, Yonhap reports.

This broadcast will mark Huang’s very first guest appearance on a South Korean variety programme. Industry insiders suggest that his trip to the country this week involves high-level meetings with leaders of major corporate conglomerates.

During his visit, he is expected to hold key discussions focusing on the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics.

Foreign production companies choosing to shoot films in Uzbekistan are set to be exempt from taxes under a wave of progressive industry reforms.

Speaking at a recent gathering with arts and culture representatives, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s cinematic management and financing systems will officially come into effect from September 1.

Restructuring film management

The upcoming changes will introduce a significant shift in how the domestic film industry is governed. Several established administrative bodies will be entirely abolished, namely the Republican Cinematographic Commission alongside the National and Artistic Councils.

To replace...

Uzbekistan’s national football team fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Canada in a recent international friendly staged in Edmonton. The fixture ultimately proved costly for the visitors, not merely due to the final scoreline but because of a potentially devastating injury to a key player.

Ganiev suffers major setback

The most concerning moment of the fixture arrived during the first half when midfielder Azizjon Ganiev picked up a worrying knock. Unable to carry on, he was withdrawn in the 23rd minute and replaced by Abbosbek Fayzullaev.

Initial reports from the medical staff suggest the damage could be severe...

A company selling Trump-branded watches has apologised and offered an $800 coupon to a customer after a $640 limited-edition timepiece arrived with a typo on its face.

The watch, purchased by Rhode Island resident Tim Petit as a gift for his wife, Melanie, was supposed to display the name «Trump» but was delivered with the letter «T» missing, leaving the word «RUMP» visible on the dial.

The couple said they were disappointed by the mistake and initially struggled to receive a response from customer service. After local media reported the issue, the company offered a replacement watch, issued...

Uzbekistan is expanding efforts to improve childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment through a partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), aiming to increase survival rates and reduce inequalities in access to care.

According to WHO Europe, the country has become a regional leader in implementing the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer and is participating in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines. The programme helps ensure a stable supply of quality-assured cancer medicines and supports improvements in diagnosis, treatment and specialist training.

A WHO technical mission to Uzbekistan this year focused on strengthening diagnostic pathways...

Uzbekistan recorded a sharp decline in the production of key energy resources during the first four months of 2026, highlighting ongoing challenges in the country’s hydrocarbon sector. According to the National Statistics Committee, natural gas production fell 16% year-on-year to 12.6 bn cubic metres between January and April, while oil output dropped 2.5% to 209,000 tonnes. Gas condensate production also declined by 19.2% to 319,300 tonnes.

Coal production experienced one of the steepest falls, decreasing 27.8% to 1.3 mln tonnes compared with the same period in 2025. Experts attribute the downturn to the depletion of mature oil and...

As Armenia deepens its push toward closer ties with the European Union, analysts are increasingly asking whether Uzbekistan could strengthen its engagement with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The debate comes amid growing tensions between Armenia and the EAEU, with member states warning Yerevan that its EU ambitions could jeopardize its position within the economic bloc. Armenia has increasingly distanced itself from Moscow in recent years, while maintaining formal membership in the EAEU.

Uzbekistan, which has held observer status in the EAEU since 2020, has gradually expanded economic cooperation with member states but has so far stopped...

The eastern Uzbek city of Namangan has entered the Guinness World Records after collectively planting more than 29.4 mln flowers in a single month as part of its 65th International Flower Festival.

According to Guinness World Records, the achievement far exceeded the minimum requirement of one million flowers, earning Namangan the title for the largest number of flowers collectively planted in one month. The campaign was coordinated by the regional administration and involved large-scale community participation across the city.

The record-setting effort forms part of the annual Namangan International Flower Festival, one of Central Asia’s largest floral events...

FIFA has introduced a series of new rules ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with England and manager Thomas Tuchel specifically highlighted over set-piece tactics that officials say will face greater scrutiny during the tournament.

The changes, approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), expand the powers of VAR to intervene when attacking players commit fouls before corners or free-kicks are taken. FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina cited a previous England goal involving midfielder Adam Wharton blocking a defender before a corner as an example of behaviour that could now be penalised.

Under the updated rules, referees...

Iran has suspended indirect negotiations with the United States after renewed Israeli military operations in Lebanon, raising fears of a wider regional conflict and threatening fragile ceasefire efforts.

According to Iranian state-linked media, Tehran halted message exchanges with Washington through mediators in response to what it described as continued Israeli violations of ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon. Iranian officials insist that any agreement with the US must include a halt to military operations in both Lebanon and Gaza.

The move comes as Israel expands strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and around Beirut. Thousands of residents have reportedly...

France, with support from the United Kingdom, has intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia as part of efforts to crack down on Moscow’s so-called «shadow fleet» used to bypass Western sanctions.

The vessel, identified as the Tagor, was stopped in the Atlantic Ocean around 400 nautical miles west of Brittany after French authorities suspected it was sailing under a false flag. French naval commandos boarded the tanker from helicopters during the operation, which was supported by British military assets.

According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the tanker had departed from the Russian port of Murmansk and...

The parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, the teenager who died after suffering a severe allergic reaction to sesame hidden in a Pret A Manger baguette, have launched a £10 mln global research initiative aimed at preventing food allergies.

The project, called Natasha’s Prize, was announced by Natasha’s Foundation nearly 10 years after the 15-year-old’s death in July 2016. The fund will support international scientific research focused on preventing food allergies from developing during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life — from conception to the age of two.

According to the foundation, food allergies affect around 220 mln...

On June 3, 2026, members of the motorsport community will take to the football pitch for the Racing Stars Football Cup. The charity match in Monaco brings together drivers and personalities for an exhibition game.

The event pits the local Barbagiuans de Monaco team against the Nazionale Piloti, a squad comprising racing professionals. For viewers, the match provides an opportunity to see figures from the track in a different sporting environment.

The starting line-up

While the match involves the motorsport community, not all Formula 1 drivers will participate. The line-up consists of a rotating roster of drivers who choose...

More than 50,000 tickets have been snapped up for the upcoming international friendly between Canada and Uzbekistan. The impressive sales figures were officially confirmed by the Uzbekistan Football Association ahead of the highly anticipated clash.

The match will take place at the Commonwealth Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 06:00 (GMT+5). When they step onto the pitch, the Uzbek national side will be wearing an all-white strip while their goalkeeper will be dressed in a green kit.

Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch has spoken highly of the visiting team, describing Uzbekistan as a formidable opponent. He also expressed his...

Uzbekistan recognised the outstanding contributions of 167 prominent figures from the spheres of culture, art and literature with prestigious state honours. The special award ceremony was held at the International Congress Centre in the capital and was attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The high-level accolades were bestowed upon a wide array of creatives spanning multiple disciplines. The distinguished recipients included professionals working in literature, music, theatre, cinema, folk art, craftsmanship and museum curation.

Alongside these creative practitioners, the list of honourees featured dedicated educators, mentors and specialists from cultural heritage institutions who have spent years preserving and nurturing...

James Milner called time on his playing days, announcing his retirement at the age of 40 following an extraordinary 24-year career in the Premier League.

The highly versatile midfielder leaves the professional game following the expiration of his contract at Brighton, where he spent his final three seasons. Across his sprawling career, Milner represented six different top-flight clubs and firmly etched his name into the history books by breaking the all-time Premier League appearance record this past February.

Teenage prodigy to decorated veteran

Milner’s storied journey commenced at his boyhood club Leeds United. He made his senior debut in...